When designing the House of Representatives, the founders of the parliamentary system envisaged a legislative body representing the national interest. The party that has the support of a majority of members in the House of Representatives provides the government. Australia is divided into 150 single-member electorates of which five must be Tasmanian.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MEMBERSHIPRepresentation in the House of Representatives is based upon the general principle of having, as near as practicable, electorates with equal numbers of electors. This is provided by regular electoral redistributions undertaken by an independent Electoral Commission.
Information about Tasmanian members of the House of Representatives and members for other states and territories can be found on the Parliament of Australia web site, http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/index.htm

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTIONSElection of members is carried out in accordance with the principles of the absolute majority through use of preference voting. If a vacancy occurs, it is filled by holding a by-election. Elections must be held at least every 3 years.
The federal election of 9 October 2004 resulted in the re-election of the Liberal Party-National Party Coalition Government, for a fourth consecutive term, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, John Howard.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTIONS, Tasmania(a) - October 2004

Votes

Swing(b)

Group

no.

%

%

Australian Labor Party

140,918

44.6

-2.6

Liberal Party

132,724

42.0

+4.9

The Greens

31,242

9.9

+2.1

Citizens Electoral Council

1,158

0.4

+0.3

Family First

8,973

2.8

+2.8

Socialist Alliance

1,108

0.4

+0.3

Formal vote

316,123

96.4

-0.2

Informal vote

11,769

3.6

+0.2

Total votes recorded

327,892

95.7

-0.5

. . not applicable
(a) State first preferences.
(b) The difference between the performance of a candidate or party at election in comparison with the previous election.
Source: Australian Electoral Commission.

More information about elections in Australia can be found on the Australian Electoral Commission web site, http://www.aec.gov.au
Further information about the House of Representatives is available on the Parliament of Australia web site, http://www.aph.gov.au/house